Surviving you

Book: Surviving You

Series: Shameless Series #2 (Can be read as a standalone)

Author: Dawn A Keane

Genre: Dark Suspenseful Thriller 

Hosted By:Francessca’s Romance Reviews

Synopsis

"Thou shalt take the boy out of Manchester, but you cannot take Manchester out of the boy." Lee – I’m a killer, a hardened criminal born into the underbelly of an unlawful world that my father crafted, and I am to be crowned the next King. I used to covet the dark; it has forever been my friend and forgives me my sins. A slither of light has dared me to hope, it has my house of cards tumbling all around me. From the moment I saw her I knew she would be my downfall, for how can something that shines so bright not burn? Yet, she is my salvation and I gladly walk the path that I have chosen…. Rose – I cringe at my own shadow; dark corners of my mind forever torment me. I have yet to escape from my demons; they beseech me with every turn of my head. Yet lurking is a promise, a promise of things to come. It has my heart in a vice; squeezing the last dregs of a love I never thought I could feel again. From the moment I saw him I knew he would be my downfall, for how can something that smolders so dark not singe? Yet, he is my redemption and I gladly walk the path that I have chosen…. “Thou shalt always protect the family.”

******

Loyalty doesn’t come much richer than family so when Lee Young decides to hang up his gun and head north he sets in motion a chain of events that cause murder and mayhem with every step closer he takes to walking. When two worlds collide, it forces Rose to meet her demons head on and has Lee frantically trying to keep both Rose and her daughter safe. The road they travel together will be their greatest challenge and their most dangerous yet. With so much to lose but everything to gain, Lee and Rose become embroiled in a game of cat and mouse as they try to confront the threats surrounding them. Running to keep one step ahead of everyone else, can these lovers climb out of the dark that they find themselves in and bathe in the light their love promises before the fire burns to embers and their world is snuffed to smoke?

Add To Goodreads

EXCERPT

Prologue

Twelve years earlier

drain the cold liquid from my glass and tip the remaining ice cubes into the wastebasket. Placing the glass against my bedroom wall, I listen closely to the loud noises coming from the next door neighbour’s bedroom. My lungs begin to fill with much needed air, the muffled ringing in my ears beginning to dull. Closing my eyes as tight as they can go, I gasp, trying to control my breathing, not wanting to make a single sound. My heartbeat thunders a hundred miles per hour inside my chest, and I attempt to slow it with deep, calming breaths. I cover my other ear with my free hand in hopes that the sounds will come through the glass pressed against the door a little clearer.

It sounds like people are shouting; a woman and a man. They’re arguing about something, screaming at the top of their lungs. She’s crying now, hiccupping with each sob. I can’t hear anyone else in the room with them, just those two unfamiliar voices.

Standing here on the chair in my pink nightgown in the dark, I see him: a boy standing against his window. I jump with fear, startled. What is he doing? I move my head closer, squinting my eyes together. He’s crying. I think he is hurt in some way. I can see his hands; his palms are flat against the window pane. The tears are streaming down his face, soaking his cheeks like the heavens have just opened and poured down around him.

I step off the chair slowly, not taking my eyes off this boy whose skin is stained with blood and tears. Placing my glass on the nightstand, I move slowly over to the window to get a closer look. I want to go to him, ask him why he is in so much pain, but I don’t want to scare him. A dull ache settles in my chest—my heart hurts for him.

As I lean against the cold glass, my heart breaks a little bit more. I watch hopelessly as his pain unfolds in front of my eyes. Each tear falling from his beautiful, dark eyes pierces my heart, sending a wave of pain through me. I press my palms and cheek against the glass, my breath steaming up the window.

I want to help him.

He might be hurt.

Someone else might be hurt.

But I can’t do anything but reach out to him. I push from the window with my hands—my back hitting the wall to the side of me—and slide slowly down the wall to the floor while my eyes remain glued to the figure before me. Tears roll down my cheeks, my own fear matching the beautiful boy.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Author Bio

I was brought up in Manchester and I am now living in the beautiful Scottish borders with my three children.

I have enjoyed writing my story as I had a pretty hard upbringing and have suffered like everyone does over the years in different situations, but everyone has a story to tell.

I just hope my story can help someone out there who is, or has been through the same sorts of situations as myself.

Stalker Links

Facebook

TSU

Amazon

Goodreads

Twitter

Book One

Surviving Him 

Shameless #1

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Ryder

Title: Ryder
Series: Slater Brothers (#4)
Author: L.A. Casey
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult, Romantic Comedy
Release Date: February 23

Cover Design: Mayhem Cover Creations

Branna Murphy is broken. For months now she has been a part of a one-sided relationship to a man she loves more than life itself. She prayed for a miracle, and hoped something would change, but found that was wishful thinking.

Talking didn’t work. Shouting didn’t work. Crying didn’t work. Nothing bloody worked.

Ryder Slater is furious. For months now he has been lying to a woman he would take a bullet for in order to protect her. He is involved in something that goes deeper than his old past, and if he strays off target, people will start to die. People he loves.

He couldn’t talk. He couldn’t slip up. He couldn’t lose focus. He couldn’t do a damn thing.

Things between Ryder and Branna are at rock bottom, and Ryder knows it. Not only will he be taking on a force that could destroy his whole family, but he will be battling tooth and nail to save his relationship and keep the love of his life by his side.

Ryder targeted Branna from the first moment he saw her, and what Ryder targets, Ryder dominates.

Pre-Order

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AUB&N | iBooks | Kobo

“Who were you talking to on the phone?” he asked me, his voice so low I barely heard him.

I was a little annoyed that he asked me an invasive question when he never answered any of mine. I wanted to counter with multiple questions of my own, asking where he went every night when he thought I was asleep and why he was on his phone all the time, but I had no energy for a fight.

He wouldn’t answer me if I asked anyway; he never did.

“Just Ash who works the delivery suite with me.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ryder nod. He had never met Ash, and I rarely spoke of him, so I had no idea what was going through his mind with my response.

“Are you okay?” he randomly asked.

I was so surprised at the question that I looked at him with raised eyebrows and said, “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

He shrugged, staring down at me, his eyes non-blinking. “You barely cracked a smile when Bronagh was announcing she was having a girl.”

Because I did my happy dance back at the hospital when she found out.

I looked forward. “I had a long day at work, I’m just tired.”

“Too tired to be happy for your sister?”

How dare he!

“I am happy for her. I don’t need to be all up in her face to be happy for her, Ryder.”

Silence.

“It seems to me like you’re a little bit …”

“A little bit what?” I pressed.

The door of the elevator opened just as Ryder said, “Jealous.”

I stepped out of the elevator, politely nodded to the security man that manned the lobby desk, and quickly walked in the direction of the main entrance.

“Branna?” Ryder groaned. “Look, wait a second.”

I didn’t. I picked up my pace and almost sprinted out of the apartment complex. When I got outside, I nodded to the security guards at the doors and headed straight for Ryder’s Land Rover that was parked in-between Dominic and Alec’s cars.

I rushed to the passenger door and stared at the handle until I heard Ryder sigh and press on the car key, unlocking the doors. I gripped the handle, pulled the door open and got up into the car, slamming the door shut behind me.

“Damn it, Branna,” Ryder complained when he got into the driver’s seat. “Don’t take your bad mood out on my car.”

Fuck you and your stupid car.

“I wouldn’t be in a bad mood had you not said somethin’ so …”

“So what?”

“Insensitive!” I finished.

“Insensitive,” Ryder repeated and turned his body to face me. “How is me saying you’re jealous of Bronagh having a girl insensitive?”

I couldn’t even look at him.

“You aren’t stupid. Think about it and I’m sure you’ll realise why.”

Ryder didn’t move a muscle as he continued to stare at me.

“You are jealous,” he murmured then gasped. “You want a baby?”

I looked out the window, not answering him.

“Branna,” he pressed. “You want a baby?”

Without looking at him I said, “I’ve wanted a baby for years, I just never said anythin’ to you to push the issue because so much bullshit has happened to our families, and being the oldest pair we had to push everythin’ aside and make sure everyone was okay. We’re the parental figures. We make sure everyone else is doin’ good before we even consider lookin’ at our own needs.”

Ryder was silent as I spoke so I pressed on.

“You know I love kids and I probably would have had a few before I met you, but havin’ a life was put on hold when me parents died. I had to focus on Bronagh, not me, her. Bein’ a midwife was me dream, it’s the one thing I allowed meself to want. It’s why I worked me arse off to become one in me late twenties whilst raisin’ a bratty teenager.”

I glanced at him as he continued to remain silent.

“Do you think we’re at a point where we should have a kid?” he asked, and I heard the doubt laced throughout his voice.

It killed me, but I agreed with him.

“No, we aren’t in the position to raise a dog, let alone a child.”

Ryder faced forward and jammed his key into the ignition and started up his car.

“Besides,” he quipped, “we’d actually have to fuck in order to get you pregnant.”

His anger was expected.

I flattened my hands out on my thighs and resisted the urge to ball them into fists.

“We probably would if you didn’t go off every single night to do God knows what.”

The silent ‘or who’ was implied, but the words never left my lips because I was terrified if it turned out to be a ‘who’ that was the reason for him leaving every night.

I didn’t think I would be able to handle that, and decided I was better off not knowing. My sister, and the other girls, would smack me around for resorting to this way of thinking, but they didn’t know what my home life or relationship with Ryder was like.

They thought they knew, but they didn’t.

“Don’t feed me that bullshit,” Ryder growled as he pulled out of the space. “I’m home a lot and you still never put out. You left our bed to sleep up in Dominic’s old room, the furthest away from me that you can be in our house.”

I felt disgusted.

“Me purpose on this Earth isn’t to fuck you whenever you see fit.”

“No,” Ryder agreed, “but it’d be nice if I could hit it at least once a fucking week. I haven’t touched you in months. I’d settle for fucking spooning at this point.”

He spoke of me like I was nothing more than a sexual object.

“And whose fault is that?” I bellowed, throwing my hands in the air. “You’ve pulled away from me. We don’t talk, we don’t laugh, we don’t do anythin’ but fight with one another and it’s your bloody fault. You have landed us in this rut, and the sad thing is I don’t even know why! I don’t know what you do when you leave the house every night, or why you’re always on your phone, and it’s pathetic that I’ve just accepted it, but I’m too tired. I fight with you all the time, I’m too exhausted to do anythin’ else.”

I turned my head and looked out the window of the car, willing the tears in my eyes not to fall. I didn’t want to cry, I was so sick of crying.

“I’ve told you I’m takin’ care of some things. That’s all you need to know.”

I closed my eyes, gutted he still wouldn’t share his secrets with me.

“I don’t believe you, Ryder.”

“Then I don’t know what to tell you, Branna.”

“How about the truth for once?” I countered. “Just tell me where you go and what you do.”

His hands tightened around the steering wheel as we approached our street.

“I can’t tell you, you wouldn’t understand.”

I looked down to my thighs and swallowed.

“I can’t understand if you don’t help me to.”

Ryder grunted as he pulled into the car parking space in front of our house, putting the car in park. “This is on me, okay? It’s nothing for you to worry about, and you will worry if I tell you, and I don’t want that to happen. We’re all under a lot of pressure with Big Phil still out there; my business doesn’t need to be added to that.”

He got out of the car, closed the door and walked up the pathway and into our house, leaving me on my own with my thoughts.

“I can’t do this anymore,” I said aloud, forcing myself to hear the words.

We couldn’t continue on the path we were on. Something had to change, and in that moment I knew exactly what I had to do to start the healing process for the many wounds that had been cut open and exposed over the last few years.

I had to make a change. I had to separate myself from the very being that wounded me so … even if he didn’t mean to.

I squeezed my eyes shut as pain struck. The remaining fragments of my willowed heart shattered into a million pieces as I made a life changing decision. A decision that would affect not only me, but my family and friends, too.

I reached out and blindingly gripped onto the dashboard of the car to stop myself from collapsing as my mind whispered what I needed to do to be free.

I had to break up with Ryder.

Don’t cry.

Dominic

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Bronagh

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Alec

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Keela

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Kane

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Aideen

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

L.A. Casey is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who juggles her time with her mini-me and writing. She was born, raised and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland. She enjoys chatting with her readers, who love her humor and Irish accent as much as her books.

Casey’s first book Dominic, was independently published in 2014 and became an instant success on Amazon. Now a hybrid author, she is both traditionally and independently published and is represented by Mark Gottlieb from Trident Media Group.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Amazon | Goodreads

Subscribe to L.A. Casey’s Newsletter

Enter to win one of 2 ARCs of Ryder! (Available in February!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guided Love

 

Title: Guided Love (The Prick Series Book 1)
Author: Tracie Redmond
Sale Blitz: Dec 2-4
Hosted by: Always Behind A Book

 

Sam Jacobs has been best friends with Camaron Willis since the second grade. Ever since the day they met her heart belonged to him. 

Now graduating from college Sam moves across the country to start their life together. 

They have been planning this for years, she will help him with his tattoo business while writing her first novel. Together, they will make their dreams come true. 

Life and people change, Sam finds herself discovering that the one you thought you always wanted may not be the one you need. 

Sometimes life guides you to places you always should have been.

        

“Hey, Samantha, where is the prick?” I stand on top of the counter covered in paint. It’s in my hair and down my shirt, shorts and legs, something Axel finds to be quite funny by the look on his face.  “He went out with the guys for a beer. I thought you’d be there with him.”  I can see a slight hesitation in his response. “Damn, yeah, I forgot that they were meeting tonight. You’re here alone and left the door unlocked? You need to make sure you lock that, even when you are home you don’t want just anyone walking in.”  I shake my head and look back at the wall. “Yeah, Axel, I wouldn’t want just anyone walking into my apartment.”  I am expecting him to just go and meet up with the pricks but to my surprise, he sits down at the table. “Need any help?”  I turn around again and see him already pulling his tee over his head. “Why are you taking your shirt off, Axel?”  He looks up at me with these mesmerizing brown eyes and in all seriousness he replies, “This is my favorite shirt.” Like that should be a logical reason for why he is taking it off.  “Well, Axel, if it’s your favorite shirt don’t you think you should keep it on?” He shakes his head like my question isn’t logical.  “Babe, I am not going to get paint on this shirt. I'm here so I’m going to help you.” I can’t help but smile.  I really do appreciate the fact that he is willing to help and that he feels comfortable enough with me to want to stay. I motion to the extra brush and pail and he heads over and picks it up. Axel’s back is to me and I never realized how many tattoos he has. He is covered. Truly, his body is a canvas of art—across his shoulder blades he has Strength in big bold lettering. Underneath that, he has an oak tree with the roots leading down to his belt. The detail of the tree is magnificent, the bark and the branches along with the leaves are so realistic it truly takes my breath away. The tree looks to have something engraved into it, but I can’t see the names this far away.  “Like what you see?” I shake my head and realize that I was caught staring at his back and the paintbrush I am holding is dripping down my arm as well as on the covered floor.  I feel myself turn red. “No. sorry, I mean yes . . . grrrr! I was just admiring your tattoos.”  Once again, Axel is laughing at me and shaking his head. “Red looks good on you, Samantha.”

I was born and raised in Northeastern, Pennsylvania where I still live today with my husband and three beautiful children. Like everyone, I have had my ups and downs and have seen my life take a complete change. Previously, I was a working mom putting in 60 hours a week as a Financial Advisor but with the sudden loss of my mom who was my best friend I found myself giving up the suits and meetings for jeans and snack time. I have always had the passion for reading and found an escape through the words of all the talented authors I have read. My passion allowed me the opportunity to blog and to get a wonderful insight into the indie world. I have enormous pride and stay true to the characters and their stories as they reveal themselves to me. I am so excited to have this opportunity to share my stories and hope you love them as much as I do.

      

The 13th Brigade

Title: The 13th Brigade

Author: Kylie Lehman

Genre: Paranormal Romance

The Light bore her.

The Earth whittled her.

The Air swayed her.

The Water cleansed her.

The Fire renewed her.

And after thirteen lifetimes, her blood still condemns her...

As the final battle between her ancient enemies and her kin rages around her, Ren must decide if it will be her first great love, or the great man who has loved her since the first, who will sacrifice their last life on Earth to bring the truth to light to save a world teetering on the brink of eternal darkness.

This second installment of The Rosefire Trilogy by Ky Lehman: a series created for all young adults at heart, answers many of the questions raised in Book 1, THE 13TH DESCENT, as the individual battles of Ren, Josh, Mike and the Tor all come to a head as they wage their final war against humankind's greatest threat. Ren also must cross swords with the traitorous Tor Princess, Avira, who is determined to claim Mike as her own, so they can live, and forget, together under the Bloodstones dictatorship of the new world: a darkness Ren and The 13th Brigade will fight until their last breath to save Mike, Josh, and the people of Earth from enduring.

The third and final book in The Rosefire Trilogy, THE 13TH RISING, is in the making, and will be coming...soon...

Author Bio

KY LEHMAN is a novelist, a children's author, a teacher of swimming and water safety and a swim school owner, wife to her high school sweetheart and the proud mother of their three very tall sons. She lives in the Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia with her husband and their children where she is currently writing the third book in The Rosefire Trilogy, THE 13TH RISING.

Links

https://www.facebook.com/kylehman

https://www.amazon.com/author/kylehman

https://www.goodreads.com/kylehman

@KyLehman13

THE 13TH DESCENT Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZzeF_M_GaQ

The Truth Series

Title: The Truth Series

Author: Elaine May

Genre: Dark Romance

Cover Designed by: Francessca’s Romance Reviews

Hosted by: Francessca’s Romance Reviews

Synopsis

For the first time Isla and Joshie's story is in one book and edited for your enjoyment. 

Lies And Truth 

When Isla Holmes life as a child is turned upside down and she is ripped away from her soul mate, she is forced to live a life with evil. 

When Isla and her soul mate cross paths will they find a happy ever after or will evil intervene?

Pain And Truth

After years apart Isla and Joshua were finally reunited in a beautiful night but come morning evil tried to destroy it. Will Isla and Joshua's love withstand the new evil that threatens them?

Add To Goodreads

Purchase Links

THESE WILL BE SENT ON RELEASE

Amazon UK – 

Amazon USA – 

Excerpt 

As she sat on a park bench in the middle of Central Park, she couldn’t get over how beautiful and peaceful it was. The trees may have long ago lost their leaves and the grass may have looked almost dead due to the winter air, but Mother Nature was beautiful. Isla couldn’t help but feel blessed to be able to once again sit in the middle of it, rather than watch from a closed window. Looking at the picture-perfect view in front of her, Isla couldn’t believe she was in the centre of the most famous city in the world.

Although it was so cold, Isla couldn’t help but think how nice it was to be able to sit outside and feel the harsh wind against her cheek, breathe in the cold air, and just be able to be normal, even for just a little while.

Couples were walking hand in hand, children were screaming and running around and people just looked happy to enjoy the day. She’d always loved to be able to people-watch. People passed her by and it made her wonder what people would see if they stopped to notice her. Would they see the tears she had shed? Would they notice the finger marks around her neck. What would they see? Was it written all over her face that she was in hell, that she needed help?

About The Author

Elaine May is my Author name. I live in the West Country of England with my two beautiful daughters and yummy hubby. I love reading dark and twisted tales that mess with your head. I love to travel and spending time with my family. My dream is for people to like what I’ve written and hopefully get to go to a book signing event as an author.

Stalk Elaine May here:

Facebook

Goodreads